IWMI participation in the IRRI-WARDA-CIAT programmatic alignment meeting, in Cotonou, Benin NEW!

As a result of the close relation WARDA and IWMI maintain in the sub-region IWMI - though outside of mainline rice research - was invited to join the programmatic alignment meeting of the other three CG Centers (IRRI, WARDA and CIAT).  The head of office, Liqa Raschid-Sally made a presentation on IWMI Africa regional activities and research, highlighting the usefulness to the alignment and potential areas where IWMI could provide expertise.

At the conclusion of the meeting when the alignment program structure and framework for common activities between the three centers was prepared, IWMI was included under the Natural Resource Management working group to identify and support research on the water related aspects of rice production expanding the scope to the larger system perspective. The detailed terms of reference are still to be worked out in collaboration with the participating centers.

CGIAR Regional Plan for Collective Action (West and Central Africa)

In 2003 the CGIAR established two related Task Forces on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to examine the issues of improving alignment of structures and programs of the CGIAR in Africa. The Task Forces recommended, inter alia, that "... the CGIAR should plan and implement its research activities focused on SSA through two MTPs, one for West and Central Africa (WCA) and the other for East and Southern Africa (ESA). In responding to the Task Forces' analysis and recommendations, the Future Harvest Alliance with WARDA as a convening centre for West and Central Africa has embarked on developing the Agricultural Research Medium Term Plan (MTP) for the WCA region. The 2007-2009 MTP development was a first attempt in this direction which received a number of recommendations for improvement from the Science Council .

These recommendations are being addressed in current consultative meetings to improve the Regional Plan for Collective Action. Five aligned and integrated priority programs have been identified. In a recent meeting of WARDA, IWMI, FARA and the CPWF (Accra, April 17-19 at IWMI, Accra, Ghana) details of the program on NRM have been elaborated. For more details on the process see WARDA newsletter.

2nd Call for an Urban Agriculture Pilot Project from RUAF partner cities: (Ghana: Kumasi, Tamale; Cameroon: Bamenda; Nigeria: Jos, Lagos; Gambia: Banjul)

Guidelines for preparing a proposal for an Urban Agriculture Pilot project from RUAF partner cities - download (pdf 383 KB)

Application deadlines
      - Proposal submission: extended 30 April, 2007
      - Assessment and feedback on Proposal: May - June 2007
      - Start of Project: 1 July 2007

Training for Accra Working Group on Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture on management styles, team building, proposal writing, conflict and project cycle management

At the Stockholm World Water Week the Small Reservoir Project of the Challenge Program on Water for Food presented the research that has been done over the first two project years and discussed the way forward, the integration of the research components, and the synthesis of our work across the three basins (Volta, Limpopo, and Saõ Francisco). More information

1st Annual Meeting of the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water for Food projects No. 38 and 51, Reducing health risks arising from irrigation with polluted water

The Policy Seminar on Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA), a follow-up to the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture held at the Institute of Local Government Studies, Accra from 29th to 30th November, 2005, was organized by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (STEPRI-CSIR), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) under coordination of the international network of Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF).The seminar sought to create awareness among policy makers on the importance of urban agriculture in the local economy as well as discuss strategies to promote its integration and recognition in government policies. Participants at the seminar were from government institutions, non-governmental organizations, Farmer groups, academic institutions, research institutions and also policy makers. Discussions centered mainly on issues emerging out of the MPAP forum and other presentations. After the discussions, a vision on UPA in Accra, which was summarized from the original Statement of Vision arising out of the multi-stakeholders Forum, were extensively discussed and endorsed.

The Multi-stakeholder Forum on urban and peri-urban agriculture for food security, livelihood support and urban greening was jointly organized by MOFA, AMA, IWMI and RUAF. The main objective was to articulate stakeholders’ interest in urban agriculture and translate these into decisions and actions on urban agriculture. The forum sought to create awareness, discuss key issues relating to UPA in Accra Metropolis, develop a city strategic vision on UPA and develop UPA action plans for implementation. Participants were from government and non-governmental institutions, farmer organizations, research and academic institutions and the media. Discussions were very participatory. Several presentations highlighted the types as well as the importance of UPA and as such the need for policy intervention. Participants came out with a statement of vision on UPA in Accra. About 54 participants were at this forum.

Workshop on Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Ghana:  Implications for Agricultural Extension. 4th October 2005. GIDA Training School, Accra, Ghana organized by MoFA

Address by Dr. (Mrs) Olufunke Cofie, West Africa Regional Coordinator, International Network of Resource centres on Urban Agriculture and Food security

18.-27. Sept. 2005

Within the context of the Cities Farming for The Future Project funded by DGIS/IDRC executed by RUAF, the International Water Management Institute in its capacity as RUAF focal point in Anglophone West Africa, organised a 10-day training workshop on the Multi stakeholder Processes on Action Planning and Policy formulation. The purpose of the training was to build the capacity of the local MPAP team participating in the CFF programme, in different pilot cities in Anglophone West Africa. Participants were drawn from governmental institutions, research/universities and non-governmental or private institutions. The training sought to enhance understanding of the key issues involved in urban agriculture, systematically analyzed urban agriculture in different context, enhanced ownership of the RUAF programme among stakeholders as well as the technical and managerial capacity of city authorities. About 35 participants were at the training.

In order to implement the RUAF/CFF programme there was the need to offer training at different levels. One such training was the Training of Trainers (ToT), the purpose of which was to train strategic resource persons that will play a role as trainers or facilitatorsin the implementation of various CFF training activities, especially the training on Multi-stakeholder Processes for Action planning and Policy formulation (MPAP) in selected pilot cities. The ToT served as preparation for the MPAP training. It also supported selected trainers to broaden their subject matter knowledge regarding urban agriculture and MPAP, as well as enhance their capacities regarding participatory and gender sensitive adult learning methods. It helped to harmonise understanding of urbanagriculture issues. There were 12 participants at this ToT workshop.

KNUST, the University of Copenhagen and the International Water Management Institute launched two projects on Safeguarding public health in Kumasi.  The workshop had a two-fold approach. First to bring together stakeholders, like farmers, representatives of the City Authorities from Accra and Kumasi, the Ministry of Food of Agriculture, directorate of extension KNUST, University of Development Studies. Second to develop a three year milestone plan of activities with all the partner institutes.

The purpose of the workshop was to introduce participants to Outcome Mapping pending its introduction into RUAF Phase II Programs from 2005-2008.

The aim was to take the discussion of the last few years on Gender and Urban Agriculture a step forward. The focus will be on the formulation of guidelines; methodology development and refinement; the development of gender training; and developing partnerships with organizations active in gender issues and with networks of women’s organizations.